Flag pole



v I 1,645,64 Oct. 18 1927' J. E. DAVIS FLAG POLE Filed may 1926 John Davis,

Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN E. DAVIS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

VFLAG POLE.

Application filed May 4,

An object of my invention is to provide a flag staff embodying a means for protecting a flag while it is not flying, as at night.

Another object is to protect the flag from unauthorized disturbance during the time it is flying.

Another object is to provide a flag staff whose novel features make it possible to eliminate the daily attaching and detaching of a flag from its hoisting rope, and the subsequent folding and transporting of the flag to a building or the like for protection thereof.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind which will not necessitate an increase in size of the ordinary flag staif.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the flag staff showing the flag at the top thereof and the door of the casing open to show the interior Fig. 2 is a fragmental view, showing the flag inside the casing.

Fig. 3 is an isometrical view of a spool forming a detail of my invention.

The device of my invention comprises a flag staff 5, generally built up of a number of sections 6, 7, 8, and pulley 9, half of which is disposed inside the uppermost section 8 and over which an endless rope or chain 12 may pass. The casing 10 has an opening 18' formed therein, and a door 11 is provided for closing said opening. 1thin the casing member 10 there is provided a spool 15. about which the cable 12 may be twined for holding the flag in a hoist-ed position, and for takingup any slack in the cable 12.

It is readily evident that the door 11, instead of being mounted on hinges 26 may be of the sliding door type. The casing 10 may be interposed between sections of the flag pole and may be secured to them by any means, for example threads 27. At the door 11 there is provided an opening 21 through which may extend the cable 12. It is readily evident that an opening for the purpose for which opening 21 has been disclosed, may be provided in any other suit-able part of the structure other than the door. A suitable lock or latch 19 is provided for retaining the door in closed position, and any desired and suitable lock may be applied for precluding lowering or removing of the flag by 1926. Serial No. 106,784.

unauthorized persons. A shield 22 covers the pulley 9 and opening 25, thus precluding the entrance of water to the interior of the flag pole. Ashield 23 likewise protects door 21. The usual clasps 20 may be used to secure the flag 16 to the hoisting means 12.

The operation of my device is as follows: Assuming that the flag 16 shown in Fig. 1 is to be lowered, the cable will be disengaged from the spool 15 and the exterior portion of the hoisting means 12 is pulled downwardly, whereupon the flag descends. When the flag has reached the lower limit of the hoisting means further pulling of the cable in the same direction will cause the 1 flag to be drawn through the opening 18 upwardly into the housing 10 and flag staff portion 6, shown in Fig. 3. The cable is then twined about the spool 15 for holding the parts in the stated positions. Any surplusage of hoisting cable is disposed in the interior of the flag staff. It should be noted that both the interior and exterior portions of the hoisting cable 12 are held taut from the inside of the casing 10, and when the door 11 is thereupon closed and locked, unauthorized manipulation of the device is precluded.

Reversing the foregoing operations will raise the flag, whereupon aflixation ofthe cable to the spool will retain the flag in hoisted position.

Use of this flag staff insures safety to the flag at all times. the flag 16 is drawn upwardly into the section 6 for a distance equal to the length of the diagonals of a flag, since the flag is drawn into section 6 by one corner 28. Ohviously, the flag is at no time bunched at any point although it is always thickest at the lower clasp 20 of Fig. 2. The thickness at this point determines the minimum diameter of the bore of the section 6.

hat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination with a hollow flag staff having an upper opening and a lower opening in the side wall thereof, of a pulley extending through the upper opening, an endless hoist ing means supported by the pulley and disposed partly within the hollow interior of the flag staff, securing means for the hoisting means disposed within the flag staff and accessible from the lower opening therein,

and a closure means for said opening, per- It should be noted that mitting passage of the hoisting means from the hollow interior of the pole to the exterior thereof.

2. The combination of a hollow flag pole having two openings in the wall thereof, a'

pulley mounted in one of the openings, a hoisting means passing over the pulley and extending through both openings for disposing one portion of the hoisting means interiorly and one portion exteriorly of the pole, and a flag carried by the hoisting means, the second opening in the pole permitting passage of the flag into and out of said pole, whereby the hollow flag pole serves as a housing for the flag when said flag is drawn thereinto.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a hollow flag pole having ered to pass through the lower closable open lng whereby the flag is alternately flown frointhe pole and housed within the hollow pole upon movement of the hoisting means in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this first day of May,

JOHN E. DAVIS. 

